CASE STUDY
Vegas Dive Bar App
The Idea
Diving
In🍻
As a self-proclaimed expert on the best dive bars in Las Vegas, I decided to take a shot at designing an app to share my favorites. They say, “Do what you love,” and I ❤️ a good dive bar.
Behind the Scenes
My Process
1. Research: Deep dive into understanding the core problem.
2. Concept: Generate and validate creative solutions.
3. Design: Refine ideas to ensure clarity and cohesion.
4. Testing: Iterate until the design aligns with user needs and standards.
Research Phase
Bar Crawling
for Data
I reviewed similar apps and visited both new and familiar dive bars to gather insights on features like bar info, drink menus, and bartender bios.
Concept Phase
Getting Ideas on Paper
I started by sketching rough screen ideas and mapping out the initial user flows to navigate the app’s features.
Wireframes
I created a basic wireframe to show how the user flows through the various screens in Balsamiq (old school, I know).
Design
Logo
Design
I designed a gritty, grunge-inspired logo along with a complementary poker chip graphic for the “Barfly Social Club.”
Design
Getting Loaded
In an effort to continue refining my interaction design skills, I added a microinteraction to the home icon— showing it "filling" with beer upon load.
Prototype Design
Making
Connections
The Result
Testing
Visualizing the Vision
Click phone to play
Last Call*
*there is no last call in Las Vegas.
🎰
The Power of Branding: Crafting the logo brought the concept to life and made the project feel cohesive, proving the importance of a strong visual identity.
🍸
Balancing Style & Function: Creating a grungy, yet intuitive interface was challenging but rewarding. The goal was to capture the dive bar aesthetic while keeping navigation clean.